Migraine Treatment in Homoeopathy
Migraine is a complex condition with a wide variety of symptoms. For many people the main feature is a severe headache. Other symptoms include disturbed vision, sensitivity to light, sound and smells, feeling sick and vomiting. The headache of a migraine often involves only one side of the head but in some cases, patients may experience pain bilaterally or on both sides. Medications can help reduce the frequency and severity of migraines. The Homeopathic treatment for migraine combined with lifestyle changes, may make a big difference.
What are the symptoms of migraine?
Migraine headaches often begin in childhood, adolescence or early adulthood. Migraines may progress through four stages, including prodrome, Migraine aura, headache and postdrome, though you may not experience all the stages.
Prodrome
One or two days before a migraine, patient may feel changes that signify an oncoming migraine, including: Constipation, Depression, Food cravings, Hyperactivity, Irritability, Neck stiffness, Uncontrollable yawning.
Migraine aura
Migraine aura may occur before or during migraine headaches. Migraine auras are nervous system symptoms that are usually visual disturbances, such as flashes of light, Pins and needles sensations in an arm or leg, Speech problems (aphasia). Most people experience migraine headaches without Migraine aura. Each of these symptoms usually begins gradually, builds up over several minutes, and then commonly lasts for 20 to 60 minutes.
Headache Attack
When untreated, a migraine usually lasts from four to 72 hours, but the frequency with which headaches occur varies from person to person. During a migraine patient may experience the following symptoms:
Pain on one side or both sides of head, Pain that has a pulsating, throbbing quality, Sensitivity to light, sounds and sometimes smells, Nausea and vomiting, Blurred vision, Light headedness, sometimes followed by fainting.
Postdrome
The final phase, known as postdrome, occurs after a migraine attack. During this time you may feel drained and washed out, though some people report feeling mildly euphoric.
Migraine is not the only condition that can cause severe headaches. For example, cluster headaches are very severe headaches that affect one side of the head in a recurrent manner. The pain is sometimes described as “drilling,” and can be worse than migraine pain in some cases. Cluster headaches are less common than migraine.
What causes Migraine headache?
Migraines may be caused by changes in the brain stem and its interactions with the trigeminal nerve, a major pain pathway. Serotonin levels drop during migraine attacks. This may cause your trigeminal system to release substances called neuropeptides, which travel to your brain’s outer covering (meninges). The result is headache pain. Although much about the cause of migraines isn’t understood, genetics and environmental factors appear to play a role.
What are the Migraine triggers?
What are the risk factors for migraine?
Migraine triggers do not always cause migraines and avoiding triggers does not always prevent migraines. Common migraine triggers include:
- -Allergies and allergic reactions
- -Bright lights, loud noises
- -Physical triggers such as tiredness, jet lag, exercise
- -Unusual smells — including perfume, paint thinner.
- – Changes in wake-sleep pattern
- -Intense physical exertion, including sexual activity, may provoke migraines.
- -A change of weather or barometric pressure can prompt a migraine.
- -Smoking or exposure to smoke and alcohol
- -Skipping meals or fasting
- -Dehydration
- -Hormonal triggers such as menstrual cycle fluctuations, birth control pills, menopause
- -Stress or tension
- -Foods containing tyramine (red wine, aged cheese, smoked fish, chicken livers, figs, and some beans), monosodium glutamate (MSG), or nitrates (like bacon, hot dogs and salami)
Other foods such as chocolate, nuts, peanut butter, avocado, banana, citrus, onions, dairy products and fermented or pickled foods
Several factors make you more prone to having migraines.
- -Family history- Up to 90 percent of people with migraines has a family history of migraine attacks
- -Age- Migraines can begin at any age, though most people experience their first migraine during adolescence.
- -Sex- Women are three times more likely to have migraines.
- -Hormonal changes- In woman who has migraines, they may feel headaches just before or shortly after onset of menstruation. Generally migraines improve after menopause.
How is Migraine diagnosed?
Migraine can be difficult to diagnose, and there are no specific tests to confirm the diagnosis. The International Headache Society recommends the “5, 4, 3, 2, 1 criteria” to diagnose migraines without Migraine aura.
This stands for:
- 5 or more attacks
- 4 hours to 3 days in duration
- At least 2 of unilateral location, pulsating quality, moderate to severe pain, aggravation by or avoidance of routine physical activity
- At least 1 additional symptom such as nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, sensitivity to sound.
During the initial diagnosis of migraines some tests may help in excluding the other causes of headache such as electroencephalography (EEG), computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spinal tap.
How to treat Migraine headaches through Lifestyle changes?
Some lifestyle alterations might help reduce migraine frequency like:
-Getting enough sleep
-Reducing stress
-Drinking plenty of water
-Avoiding certain foods
-Regular physical exercise and Yoga may also help in treating the migraine.
-Avoid loud and noisy places and bright lights
-Quit alcohol or smoking
–Improve your posture
-Use your imagination-Mental imagery has been shown to reduce headaches. Find a quiet place to close your eyes and use your mind to fill your head with something other than pain. Picture rolling hills or waves lapping over sand, even just creating a landscape of soothing colours can be helpful.
-Patient should maintain a diary of symptoms for noting the time of onset, any migraine triggers, how long the headache lasted, any preceding factors or Migraine aura and any other symptoms.
What is the Migraine treatment in Homeopathy?
Homeopathy cures migraine permanently. But it is a chronic disorder and may take few months to get cured. Initially we will see a reduction in the severity and the frequency of the headaches. This gradually over a period of time would lead to the complete cure.
It is very important to understand the basic difference between getting relief and getting a cure from migraine headaches. Homeopathic philosophy does not favour the use of temporary painkillers. Homeopathy tries to go deep down into the cause of the problem and completely eradicate the tendency of migraine headaches. So we have best migraine treatment in homeopathy.
Following are the important remedies for migraine headaches. But this does not mean that these homeopathic migraine remedies are enough to cure all cases or all patients. The exact prescription of the right medicine depends on the individual symptoms of the patient. It should be best if you left it to an experienced homeopathic doctor.
Natrum muriaticum: Migraines (often on the right) that are worse from grief or emotional upsets, worse from too much sun, or occur just before or after the menstrual period, are likely to respond to this remedy. The headache feels “like a thousand little hammers were knocking on the brain” and is often worse from eyestrain.
Sanguinaria: Right-sided migraines with tension in the neck and shoulder, extending to the forehead with a bursting feeling in the eye, are often relieved with this remedyThe headaches improve after vomiting, as well as from burping or passing gas, and are often better after sleep.
Sepia: Left-sided migraines with dizziness and nausea, worse from missing meals, and worse near menstrual periods or during menopause, often responds to this remedy. Pain may come in shocks or jerks, and the person feels worse indoors and from lying on the painful side. A person needing Sepia feels weary, cold, and irritable, wanting no one to make demands on them.
Silicea : Migraines in a nervous person who is very chilly. Headaches are usually right-sided, starting in the back of the head and extending to the forehead, and are worse from drafts or from going out in the cold without a hat.
Belladonna: Headache of forehead and temple especially on the right may indicate a need for this remedy. Pain is throbbing or pounding, and worse from jarring, light, and noise. The face may be flushed and red, and the skin feels hot, although the feet and hands are often cold. The pupils may be dilated, with sensitivity to light, and the person may either feel delirious or drowsy.